Your word for this day: BEGIN.
I want you to realize just how important your voice and talent is. I want you to remember your pen is yours, and that the story you want to tell, can only be told by you.
Get to it.
With Love & Ink,
JBHarris
Dear Writer-
It is the first day of a new year. Considering the chaos and wreckage that was 2020, it is nice to have a blank slate in front of us. With that said, I need you to know three things. I believe in these three things will help empower you through your 2021: own your pen, write boldly, protect your writing space.
Let’s examine those further.
Own Your Pen. Your talent, your gift is yours. You must realize that to own the title of writer means you must own all you create. Own your imagination. Own your daydreaming! Own every idea, ever hesitation and every win–no matter how small. Own the fact that being a writer means there’s only one explanation: you must write. Let 2021 be the year opportunities are given to you–even if you have to create them.
Write Boldly. You have heard me quote Stephen King often in this space, especially “You cannot come lightly to the blank page.” In this new year, give yourself the permission to create as you never have. Let the the thoughts come as they need to, as they have to! I want you to become more confident in what you want to create. Do not allow 2021 to dictate your talent, ideas or passions. Write because you can and continue because you must.
Protect Your Writing Space. Alfred Hitchcock is quoted to have said, “I am a writer, therefore, automatically a suspicious character.” For that suspicious nature, the space by which, and in which, you create should be as unique as the writer whom inhabits it. Make your space conducive to your writing, and be specific! Do you need it warm or cold? Do you need a specific time blocked off? Do you need music or quiet? Once you decide what it is you need, be aware of the discipline and focus it will take in order to maintain both writing time and space. Be intentional about it. Be vicious about it! Be intentional about it! The more you access your gifts and talents, the easier they will be to access.
I wish you luck this year, Dear Writer. I wish you long, light and easy ideas and the bravery to chase what isn’t so easy. Continue when it’s hard, do not get cocky when it is easy, and remember your ideas are yours. Above all, own your pen–and all the power in it.
With Love & Ink,
JBHarris
Good Morning! This the first day of the new year and this year will be the focus of writing your book. No matter how long you have waited to write it, to matter how scared you have been to start it! This is safe space to get encouragement to write the story you want–like you want! Consider this your friendly reminder that your book isn’t going to write itself–and you must write it.
Good luck!
With Love & Ink,
JBHarris
Despite the challenges, you made it. You made it 364 days. You made it through Writer’s Block, Writer’s High, rejection of manuscripts, re-writes, changed endings, publishing opportunities, and the starting of new platforms. You made it. Were the circumstances ideal? No–not for anyone. But you did it! Celebrate the wins. Study the losses. Continue towards the new. This new year is still on the horizon–there will be more opportunities. More things to embrace, more things to celebrate, more things to create.
Your pen is not empty.
With Love & Ink,
JBHarris
In Part 1, we talked about establishing a treasure chest, and what all goes into that. Now, we will discuss why those things are important–why that work was necessary! The work is necessary for organizing your thoughts, and keeping you on track for the project you desire. You have the space and time to do all you want–if you make space for it! The forethought and planning allows you to make space in your imagination for what you want–think of it as prepaying rent. In ‘prepaying’ it, you have decided to make the project you are working on not only a priority, but tangible! It is easier to write something that you have seen, than something that is still nebulous in your mind. All the research, images, and freewriting (even music!) helps to give shape to what was only an idea! But this is the purpose by which treasure chests are made–they are investments! They are a safe way to protect your jewels: your ideas. I am a believer that what you believe in, you will pay attention to and invest in. Open your treasure chests, dear ones. Fear not–you put time and effort into it. Since you did the work, reap the rewards of it–one word at a time.
Writing is dreaming with your eyes open. So, what are you dreaming of? Where is your pen seduced to go? Where does ink in your blood draw you? Which way is your imagination being drawn to go? Take it there. Stay there. Enjoy the jouney–that belongs to you too.
With Love & Ink,
JBHarris
Holidays are the source of joy for some, and trauma for others. What I want you to remember is that you own your story–every part, every moment, every instance. Once you remember this, once you remember that your story is yours in its completeness–it will cease to have control over you. You have the pen. Use it. Use it liberally and wisely.
With Love & Ink,
JBHarris
No matter what you are celebrating today, know that I celebrate you on your writing journey! Know that I am proud of the strides you have made, and are making! You are right where you are supposed to be on this journey, and I am glad this space has been a help to get you to where you desire to be!
I know that 2020 has been a ride most incredible, but we have made it to the end of it (almost)! I believe that 2021 will be one of the best years of your life! I believe you will do some of your best writing! I believe that you will write bold, afraid, driven and with renewed fervor!
That is the gift I give to you, dear Oracles! You have someone that does believe in you, wholeheartedly. See you in 2021!
Happy Holidays! Merry Christmas! Happy Friday!
With Love & Ink,
JBHarris
There are only eight more days until this year is over! With that in mind, what are you looking forward to complete or start for the new year of 2021. What are you looking forward to? What have you been scared to start? What have you been scared to finish? What have you been dreaming of doing? If the idea has come back to you more than once, that is a sign that you need to write it down.
You can do it. Don’t fear the words–fear not writing them.
With Love & Ink,
JBHarris
When I was a girl, I was fascinated by treasure chests. I was fascinated by how ornate they were, and what might be inside of them. Writers have treasure chests too! And the best part is we can create them, as well as fill them! So, the question remains this: How does a writer create a treasure chest? This goes to the idea I spoke about on the podcast: a draft-drawer. A draft drawer if you remember is a digital file/physical file you keep all your writing in. However, in creating a treasure chest, you single out one piece of your writing that you are drawn to, but perhaps have not had time truly get back to. Your treasure chest allows you to build up and around this particular work. This could be pictures, sketches, even books with baby names! But the treasure chest is for your project, giving it space to grow and be there when you get to it! Every time that you add to it, you are making the decision as to the importance of this project–you are taking your story seriously. Meaning, you are taking your talent seriously. A treasure chest holds more than glittering items–they hold your future. Plan accordingly!
